[Bradster56]

Not sure if it pays to repair my malfunctioning 20 year old Sony X707ES which i use as a transport only...I know laser assemblies for these units are like gold...Already had the belt replaced a few years back...Any suggestions if my beloved Sony has to be put to bed?

[medium jim]

I had a Denon DCD-1500 for 15 years and was trouble free.

Jim

[FullRangeMan]

I regret I sell my Denon DCD1520 from 1992.
After I remove the drawer mechanism the sound turns great.

In UK they like the Rotel 965BX, also from 90s;

[SteveFord]

Harman Kardon units work well as a transport - kind of dead sounding as a stand-alone unit.

[Bradster56]

I'll proly bring it in for a free estimate but even a small repair (like replacing a belt last time) runs $150 at this local shop..not many options here in Daytona Beach...

[SteveFord]

What's it doing?

[SteveRB]

I used to use cheap DVD players for CD. They often sounded much better than mid range CD players.


This may be a sign that a digital server is in your future... (Mac Mini)

[Bradster56]

drawer opens on occasion and when you try to close it with the drawer open/close button or play button nothing happens...you hear a motor working but nothing moves...not like the issue that was resolved when i changed the belt because the drawer needed a little push to close but operated fine with no motor noise...new belt returned the drawer to smooth operation..now a put a disc in and manually close it and it doesn't read or play the disc..don't believe it's a laser issue (but what do i know)

[SteveFord]

Would you care to open it up and post some pics? 
CD players are pretty much standard inside and maybe we can do a remote diagnosis.

I don't know if you can view this without being a member but Zumbini is the CD Player Repair King.
http://www.thecarversite.com/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=4071

[Bradster56]

I can accomplish that in a few days but i understand these ES series CD players are just very complicated to work on due to buried parts under circuit boards etc...I'm certainly not tech savvy 

I suppose i could shoot a video of the issue...

[SteveFord]

Perhaps a member here can help?
Here's another useful link but without a lot of photos:
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/cdfaq.htm#cdairp

[FullRangeMan]

What is the transport model??   Most Sony transport are built like a rock.
My ex- Denon DCD1520 used a Sony KSS151A, a Peterbilt transport.

Usually these good transports from the past last a century.
If you live in a cold or humid area, the lens also get humid or dusty.
So you need clean the lens with a wet cotton swab + neutral soap bar + mineral water(without chlorine).

Please Note: it is little water and little soap; if you wet the transport PCB inside the lens cover it may damaged permanently! So proceed carefully.

[Bradster56]

The model is Sony CDP-X707ES CD player that i'm using as a transport only...Thanks for all comments/suggestions...keep'em coming!

[SteveFord]

Stay tuned, a buddy of mine is into the ES series so maybe he can lend his considerable talents.

[kve777]

First- GREAT CD player, don't give up on it.
OK, sounds like the loading mechanism is out of time(these things are carefully timed to make sure all of the loading actions happen in a certain order and degree of movement)and maybe has a broken tooth or out of alignment part keeping the tray from completing the load cycle. Since I have not come across many "usual fixes" for this problem, I'd have to witness the action with the cover off. I have 5 ES players, but none match the X707ES. The service manual is available at HiFi Engine http://www.hifiengine.com/library/sony/cdp-x779es.shtml and http://www.hifiengine.com/library/sony/cdp-x707es.shtml, as you can see, your X707ES is an X779ES with a few differences, Sony did not see the need for a separate manual, just a supplement for those differences. I'll keep an eye out for a broken X707ES or X779ES, as a parts unit, if it's cheap enough. Good luck!